Trial Set for Corona Police Woman Accused of Failing to Report Abuse

RIVERSIDE – A Nov. 19 trial date was confirmed today for a Corona police officer accused of failing to tell her superiors about allegations that a 13-year-old boy was being physically and mentally abused.

Cpl. Margaret Bell, 43, could face jail time and fines if convicted of a misdemeanor count of failing to report evidence of child endangerment.

Bell, who remains on paid administrative leave from her job, was charged in July following an investigation by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

According to prosecutors, the 23-year law enforcement officer allegedly learned about a boy being abused by members of the Heart of Worship fellowship in Corona in March but did not report the information to investigators, as required in her capacity as a peace officer.

The child, identified in court documents as Jacob, was allegedly subjected to repeated acts of abuse at the hands of three men — Nicholas James Craig, 22, Darryll Duane Jeter, 28, and Lonny Lee Remmers, 54. All are members of the fellowship; Remmers is the pastor.

In September, a judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to try the defendants on a variety of felony charges, including kidnapping, making criminal threats and inflicting corporal injury on a minor.

According to investigators, Jacob’s mother sent him to live with the men after he allegedly twice sexually assaulted his 7-year-old sister.

To correct the boy’s behavior, the defendants allegedly made him dig a ditch and told him it could end up being his own grave, and once strapped him to a chair in the bathroom of Remmers’ home and pepper-sprayed him, according to testimony from the September preliminary hearing.

Remmers alone is accused of pinching the boy’s chest with pliers to punish him.

The men could each face more than 15 years in prison if convicted. They’re all free on bail.